Anti-eve teasing helpline not helpful enough

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

The anti-eve teasing helpline started by the Delhi police last year did not benefit the victims as promised due to lack of immediate effect required in such cases. Girls calling on this specific number do not receive a favourable response from the authorities and are kept waiting for an answer to the complaint.

Rama Khanna (name changed), a 20-year-old college student called up at 1091 last month, after she was constantly harassed by an anonymous caller. She was instead asked to call on some “direct” numbers which either did not get answered or were diverted to other numbers. She said, “I got four other landline numbers and eventually someone picked up to take down my complaint. But the voice was too lethargic and uninterested so I did not expect a decent reaction. I realised it was a waste of time.”

Khanna then sent an e-mail to the Commissioner of Police referring to the same concern and within the next few weeks received a call from a police official who claimed that the anonymous caller was caught and now it is her discretion to go ahead with the complaint or let the man apologise and leave. She decided to let it go as this was the first time she had received such obnoxious calls and never received them after it. She said, “The police official gave me his personal number in case of an emergency and that kept me reassured.”

However, not all victims have an option of writing e-mails and most of them, even after registered complaints, are unaware of the proceedings. PRO Delhi Police, Rajan Bhagat, said, “There can be some isolated incidents but most often the service works well and the feedback for recently launched anti-stalking help line is also positive.”

Nonetheless, in most cases the victims said that the anonymous calls stopped after they lodged the complaint with the helpline but would like the representatives to be more considerate towards the harassed victims.

- as published in The Sunday Guardian -

Disabled players raise stink after CGF bars gold winner

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

Sportspersons belonging to the disabled category are disheartened over the Commonwealth Games Federation's policy that has stopped Indian athletes from participating in events such as wheelchair races, short put and 100 m race, even while the international contingent will be competing in these disciplines. The affected sportsmen have been protesting over the past one month demanding equality from the authorities, who in turn, claim that lack of facilities has hampered the inclusion of these events.

Javed Abidi, director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People says, "It is strange as to how the Ministry does not realise the value of such mistakes which they can clearly take charge for. Not including wheelchair races, where we already boast of so many medals, is to risk our country's dignity in an important international event. The overall medal tally will be drastically affected by such decisions." Abidi finds it disturbing that such decisions were taken due to lack of facilities as few ministry officials have claimed. He asks about the whereabouts of Rs 13 crore allocated for disabled sports, a small part of which could have easily provided all basic equipments and training to these athletes. Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill finally called them for a meeting after they staged a dharna in front of his office. The minister is expected to respond in a week to the demands.

While they linger on to some hope, Rajkumar — born with an orthopaedic handicap and a national level archery player — got a rude shock when the sports ministry told him that no disabled participant will be included in the main event. Participants in the main event of Archery have to follow international norms, and Rajkumar's handicap rules him out of the event. Rajkumar and his fellow players are clueless as to which authority they need to approach for redressal.

He laments. "It was extremely discouraging to remain a spectator in the selection procedure of my 'able' friends, when I knew I was at par with them to compete. If only I am provided with a stadium and equipment to practice, in a month, I will be ready for the competition." For the record, he won Gold in the 2009-10 National Games.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian on 16 May 2010—

China spurns Tibetan relief

Pooja Shali

Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh

Relief material collected by Tibetans in India for the victims of the 14 April earthquake in China has not found its way to the victims. The earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the Kyigudo (Chinese: Yushu) district of Tibet and reportedly killed around 2,000 people, and injured around 1, 000.

Lobsang Choedak, the press officer of the Department of Information and International Relations of Tibet's Government-in-exile says, “The Chinese Government has kept the transfer request on hold without a valid reason. We are now planning to open some other channel to transfer the collected relief.” The money is being collected by the 4-14 Yushu Earthquake Charity Committee formed by the youngsters from Kyigudo, now residing in Dharamsala.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama, speaking to a congregation at a monastery had said, “The Tibetan community in exile would like to offer whatever support and assistance it can towards the relief work. We hope to be able to do this through the proper and appropriate channels as soon as possible. I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort.”

Kunga, a member of the Yushu Charity committee sait that they were in touch with the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and the moment they replied in affirmative they would head to Tibet to help the people in distress.

Refugee children settled in McLeodganj are anxious to know if their parents back home survived the disaster. Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) provides shelter to 2, 000 refugees, most of whom are orphans. Others left their parents at home when they were forced to cross the mountains in search of a more respectable life. The majority of these children belong to Kyigudo district.

Phuntsok Namgyal, director of TCV, is in a dilemma about informing the children in case someone's parents do not make it out of the rubble. Direct contact like a phone call is a luxury as the Chinese Government is keeping a close watch on such conversations. The disaster has left TCV visible quiet. Konchok (name changed), a 12- year old student is unable to hold back her tears. She yearns for her parents and refuses to accept that there is a slight chance of never meeting them again.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian on 16 May 2010 —

Constable's job not good enough for city

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

The national recruitment drive that Delhi Police organises from May every year sees the lowest number of applicants from the national capital. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh dominate the applications. Out of the 21, 944 candidates recruited since 2004, only a few hundred were from Delhi.

According to Rajan Bhagat, the Delhi police PRO, the city offers several lucrative private jobs and that are big attractions. “Apart from transparent examinations, police recruits are provided a reasonable salary, but still the post of a constable does not feature as a career option for many Delhi residents,” he said.

A constable gets anything between Rs 14, 000 and Rs 17, 000 but in a city where egos run deep, the tag of a call-centre employee is preferred over that of a mere constable.

Abhishek Kumar, a 20-year old applying for the post of a constable has studied up to class XII. He feels it is a matter of honour to wear the police uniform but is sceptical about sustaining his family with his salary in an expensive city like Delhi. Kumar adds that if he was a graduate he would not want to become a constable or even a sub-inspector, as his family would expect more from him.

The increasing cases of corruption in the police is another factor that is failing to attract the youth, but Bhagat believes that the organisation often holds exercises within and outside the force to maintain its respectable standard.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian —

Some colours, some memories

Holi is over and so is the fun. People have gone back to their lives. The remaining packets of gulaal have been put back on the innermost shelf of the cupboard, in the storeroom. Some coloured clothes are washed and given to the servant’s kids. Some, however, will be worn again next Holi.

The imprints are visible on lanes right outside someone’s house. Colours lay sprinkled on the roads reminding you of those few wild hours. The splattered colours take you back to the relationships which have gone back to lonely beds after veiling them with bhaang giggles.

I step on these colours and move ahead to the roads to find if some spot isn’t so colourful, isn’t so bright.

I think of the man who I know must be thinking of me, right at this moment.

And then... I think of a man whom I wanted to think of me. While sipping tea in his office cabin, or reading a book, does he ever think of the way I move my hands or how I smile?

I have reached office. I switch on the computer to find him online. He seems busy, and I know he isn’t thinking of me.

My phone beeps. The message is from the one, who thinks of me every single second.

**

(Photograph clicked by Pooja Shali)

Let me Dream....

He stood at a corner holding a bundle of his published writings. People lazily browsed through some of the pages of his books, gave a nod of appreciation and moved on. For some it was a leisure time at the 19th World Book Fair, a family picnic. For Lakshman Rao, however, few precious hours were lost. Without a trace of exhaustion on his forehead, and an empty cash-box, he left pragati maidan disappointed with the crowd that pretends to read. Murmuring words to himself, he takes out his rickety cycle from the stand, stacks his books on the carrier and begins to paddle away. Humming old Hindi film songs and moving his cycle zigzag in Delhi traffic, he prepares himself for the day ahead.

Browsing through a pile covered under a dusty tarpaulin sheet, Rao grabs a pan, an old wooden stool and a bucket. As he assembles these bits and pieces, a pavement corner outside Hindi Bhawan near I.T.O, suddenly transforms into a tea stall. A huge plastic sheet is spread next to him for his most treasured possession- his books. Neatly covered in cellophane packets, he positions them well, for bystanders to catch notice. Within minutes, there is commotion. Udham Prakash stops his auto right in front of the stall and seeing him Rao hurriedly pours water into the pan. His customers have arrived. Auto drivers, government officials, labourers stand next to him waiting for a hot cup of tea. He mixes tea leaves with boiling milk and adds little more water watching additional customers arrive. “Milk is expensive”, he says.

When I asked him how much milk he bought the first time he opened his stall, with tired eyes Rao said “three litres. Out of which only half litre was used. I drank the rest half. I sat distressed knowing two litres will go waste. Suddenly a man appeared and asked for 50 cups of tea.” His eyes sparkled remembering the incident so vividly, “Oh I knew my business had started.”

The incident happened years ago and since then Lakshman Rao comes to the same spot every single day. “My customers wait for me”, Rao says. I saw that, when a young girl waiting for her tea left because she thought he was taking too long. He tried to stop her but others had to be served too. Looking at me Rao only smiled and offered another matthi, a salted cookie. I obliged and continued to talk. He showed me his recent publication, Ramdas. The first edition of this book was published in 1992. He accumulated money all these years to come out with a thicker issue and an edited version. He takes special care of Ramdas. A real story of a boy from his native village in Amrawati, Maharashtra, who drowned to death created an everlasting impact on Rao. It encouraged him, then a teenager to pen down his thoughts and by the time this book was finished, Rao knew he wanted to become a writer. Take him to a serene lake today, and he can be seen lost in some other world, perhaps recollecting the day he made a wish. Back then he only had a dream.

While one of the customers was busy sipping tea and chatting on phone, Rao took out some papers and began to scribble. I wanted to ask what he was writing. I didn’t. Realising he had taken too much time engrossed in words, he suddenly looked up to check if there was a new customer. He turned to me and inaudibly said it was another manuscript. “I am writing another book, as sales from Ramdas helped me get some money.” Then gently he put back the paper and pen and vigorously pumped the gas stove. More visitors were approaching us. He told me it is a group of theatre enthusiasts from across the road. Clad in kurta and jeans, the boys and girls chatted away sipping hot tea and discussing their rehearsal.

Rao sells each book for Rs. 300, printed clearly on the hard cover of every edition. Perhaps he guessed what I was about to ask and remarked, “Even when I die I will make sure my books are printed in hard cover, because that is what makes a writer’s image”. And what about the price, does he feel price is as important for his image? He shook his head and with a look of immense wisdom replied, “An expensive book does not get me more money. I market my work well. Marketing is the most difficult job in a writer’s life... I am a writer, and without solid support also a publisher, a distributer.”

He was once refused by a renowned publisher who, in Rao’s words ordered him to “Get out”. Surprisingly, he holds no vengeance today. Instead, he feels thankful for no favours were done to him and he learnt his lesson early. Now, Rao pens down literary drafts during nights when the family is asleep in their one room house.

He adores the calm silence after a day on Delhi’s chaotic streets. The books are published when the money is enough, and he distributes them in school and college libraries. His mode of transport is his cycle, at times also a confidante.

Busy multi-tasking to fulfil his dream of working as only a writer, Rao has performed enough struggle. At an age of 54, it seems incredible to watch him exhaust himself ruthlessly to balance family responsibilities and a teenage wish. His dreams refuse to die down and so do his barriers.

Posing for a photograph, Rao sits erect, making sure he looks attentive. I tell him to remain casual, but he reacts strongly saying it will not look nice when printed. After a few exchange of words, there is a sudden change in camaraderie between the photographer and Rao. Aiming at the photographer, Rao looked at me and said, “He is the same man, who clicked my first ever photograph for a national daily... two decades ago, at the same spot. As if two friends catching up after a long time reminiscing of good ol’ days, I was suddenly the odd one out.

Rao, adding to instances which shaped up his life talked about his recent felicitation from the President of India, Pratibha Patil. Some more awards were on the way, to which he very excitedly invited me. “So are you finally getting recognised”, I interrupted while he was narrating his itinerary to me. He was ready with an answer, but a labourer appeared and asked for a cup of tea. I decided to let it be.

The sun was about to set and Rao had done considerable business for the day. He lit an oil lamp and pumped his stove again. Like a silhouette in a dark lazy street, Rao became a figure refusing to pause. Either his hands jostled between the tea pan and cash or his thoughts wandered to a character he was shaping up in his mind. The wind blew and hit our bodies with unkind precision. I tucked my hands inside my black shawl.

With a sheepish look and an awkward voice I asked if he is planning to head home, as the cold was becoming unbearable. He laughed and said, “Well it isn’t raining at least, or I don’t need a shade to hide from the blazing sun.”
I am glad it was dark and the lamp did not register my guilt.

The tarpaulin sheet attached to a banyan tree behind him, gives him respite during summer. The same becomes a tiny shade during monsoon. In winter though, he comes wrapped up in a sweater, creased shirt collars peeping out.

Before a goodbye, I bought the latest edition of Ramdas from him. Like all customers who come and go, I too moved away leaving the silhouette to jostle between two worlds. Browsing through pages of the book, a paragraph from Ramdas read: “Suddenly tears began to flow from his eyes. What was in those tears? A mere history of seven months, those tears had an image of a new era, which broke even before taking shape…. and withered away forever.”

Only… for Lakshman Rao, seven months were really 27 years.
Rao saw me leave and came running to me, calling my name. “I forgot to tell you, I bought a colour T.V. recently!” The happiness of his latest purchase was too obvious in his eyes.
After a moment of broken thoughts Rao continued. “Well I do not watch T.V., I am just happy my kids have one for themselves.”

There you go again, Mr.President!!

by Pooja Shali

Asif Ali Zardari seems to be creating one storm after another. As if his extremely vocal appreciation of Sarah Palin’s beauty was not enough, there appeared one more explosion from the late Benazir Bhutto’s husband. The recent one, however, is more dramatic and exclusive. In an interview to Bret Stephens of The Wall Street Journal, Zardari confessed to the active presence of militant Islamic groups in J&K (according to him within the Indian occupied border). He elaborated by referring to them as ‘terrorists’ and continued to say that they are not ‘freedom fighters’ as Musharraf must have liked.

As the broadcast and print media began to flash these exclusive words, our countrymen were stunned. Coming from a Pakistani President, predecessors of whom have supported the absurd so-called freedom struggle, this was an uncanny moment.

The defence minister of Pakistan (on Times Now) expressed shock at this statement, and tried to cover up the matter stating that the president was misconstrued. So was it really a preposterous blunder by Zardari? Or the leadership of Pakistan has decided to finally withdraw its support to the ongoing terrorism in Kashmir? Or was it just another well planned political move?

The author would like to believe that it’s all three of the above. Pakistan has thought and rethought its stand on Kashmir. The upheaval that their government has supported for decades in Kashmir, which ruined a million lives, has begun to haunt them now in the global arena. While its favourite neighbour is all set to sign a nuclear deal, Pakistan is busy trying to hide its inner turmoil that has also paralysed its borders. Constant references to terrorism in India supported by the ISI, became too much of a burden for its leadership. The inability to counter such claims has also unwrapped Pakistan’s insecure present and uncertain future. Perhaps, it was obvious that Zardari came out to be an authority against terrorism in the valley as opposed to supporting it. Whether or not he meant his words, is a different game altogether.

The Pakistani government weighed too much of its integrity on Kashmir, but failed miserably to convince the world that it was a fair deal. They seemed to have realised the rickety platform on which Pakistan currently stands. Expanding space for Kashmir will only push them into murky waters. For a while it shall be a wise standpoint for Pakistan to depart from their pretentious adoration of the valley and concentrate on its inner advancement.

PPP might try to clarify his stance by distinguishing terrorism and Kashmir Liberation Movement as two separate entities, but the debacle has been witnessed. The smouldering divide between Muslim separatists and Pakistani leadership is unbolted for the world to see.

Going by the current scenario in valley where ‘Yahan chalo’ and ‘Wahan chalo’ movements are in vogue, the isolation of separatists is visible. A Frankenstein they created against non-Muslims in Kashmir has today re-emerged to attack their own side, and certainly with a more monstrous outline.

As for Zardari, if he tries to clarify his words anymore, I too shall have a small advice for him- “Mr.President, the sooner you try and understand the ideology of Pakistani leadership the better it shall be for your throne”.